Maybe I missed something but I believe mm's point was that having both "tba" and Sasha would boost ratings.

Hardly anbody from USA would believe Sasha alone would have much effect on TV viewership but having Michelle and Sasha both back would.

I don't think it is very speculative at all (o% in fact) to connect SA's "tba" with Michelle.

I know you are not a Michelle fan, and you are also not from USA. A Canadian view is as good as any but Michelle trumps Sasha in every possible way, from skating titles to endorsement deals and popularity with skating fans and the biggest area, Michelle's name recognition with the general American public.

Sorry, but imo the heaviest banking was always on Michelle's possible comeback, not Sasha's.

My interpretation and angle is that they were banking on Sasha, and possibly hoping for Michelle.

It doesn't matter that Michelle > Sasha (I agree with it, in terms of both popularity and skater), there was always less certainty with Michelle's return compared to Sasha's announcement in May(?), despite Sasha's questionable ability in or commitment to returning.

And believe it or not, I actually had a Michelle SP (Rachmaninoff 1998) somehow Favourited in my YouTube list without remembering the program or when I did it. So do away with the need to lecture me about Michelle's greatness.

My interpretation and angle is that they were banking on Sasha, and possibly hoping for Michelle.

It doesn't matter that Michelle > Sasha (I agree with it, in terms of both popularity and skater), there was always less certainty with Michelle's return compared to Sasha's announcement in May(?), despite Sasha's questionable ability in or commitment to returning.

And believe it or not, I actually had a Michelle SP (Rachmaninoff 1998) somehow Favourited in my YouTube list without remembering the program or when I did it. So do away with the need to lecture me about Michelle's greatness.

Forget Michelle's "greatness" because you or anyone else can make an argument that perhaps she is overrated. I don't have any problem with that and it gets discussed at GS from time to time.

As far as the degree of "speculation" you could also raise a point.
But after Michelle's comments at '09 Worlds there was a great degree of speculation over whether she would return. Her apearance at Yun'a summer show only fueled that speculation.
There were announcemnets from US Skating that a deadline would be given to Michelle regarding the timing of her announcement about whether she would return to compete again or not.

That is how I remember it, and if mm cares to join in I believe he alone can say who he believed the "tba" for Skate America was created for.

Knowing mathman he will probably say it was reserved for Dorothy Hamill's comeback

But after Michelle's comments at '09 Worlds there was a great degree of speculation over whether she would return. Her apearance at Yun'a summer show only fueled that speculation.
There were announcemnets from US Skating that a deadline would be given to Michelle regarding the timing of her announcement about whether she would return to compete again or not.

That is how I remember it, and if mm cares to join in I believe he alone can say who he believed the "tba" for Skate America was created for.

Knowing mathman he will probably say it was reserved for Dorothy Hamill's comeback

I feel like I have to be extremely literal and state everything in order to make myself clear, which annoys me.

I know that Mathman said he believes the TBA was meant for Michelle (I can read.)

In case that isn't clear, I will say it another way. It is obvious to me that Mathman said he thinks SA's TBA spot was in hopes of Michelle showing up.

Secondly, in my mind, Michelle's announcement in early August that she would retire did not fuel speculation that she would compete in 2010 Oly's; it dampened it (or rather, in my case, eliminated it) and her participation in the Ice Show with YuNa a few weeks after did not affect this impression of mine. I also do not believe it changed most people's ideas of Michelle returning to competition.

Third, R.D.'s pointing out the previous SA primetime scheduling of Ladies' Figure Skating may have disproved the original notion that they made a huge setup for Sasha's appearance. No biggie. Bennett's skepticism is now realism.

I feel like I have to be extremely literal and state everything in order to make myself clear, which annoys me.

I know that Mathman said he believes the TBA was meant for Michelle (I can read.)

In case that isn't clear, I will say it another way. It is obvious to me that Mathman said he thinks SA's TBA spot was in hopes of Michelle showing up.

Secondly, in my mind, Michelle's announcement in early August that she would retire did not fuel speculation that she would compete in 2010 Oly's; it dampened it (or rather, in my case, eliminated it) and her participation in the Ice Show with YuNa a few weeks after did not affect this impression of mine. I also do not believe it changed most people's ideas of Michelle returning to competition.

Third, R.D.'s pointing out the previous SA primetime scheduling of Ladies' Figure Skating may have disproved the original notion that they made a huge setup for Sasha's appearance. No biggie. Bennett's skepticism is now realism.

Good points. I think we agree and just had a misunderstanding.
Bennet is right about the TV - just as mathman might have been right about the more important issue - the timing of SA, which is usually first and not so late in the GP season.

Michelle did announce her retirement publicly shortly after the deadline US Skating had asked for. But earlier US skating also had asked to move SA back.
I will "speculate" to give Michelle more time to prepare - Sasha , who had been skating in shows was believed to be further along and was assigned to the 1st GP of the season, TEB.

The rest, as we know is history. Michelle did not "unretire" and Sasha is still bedeviling her fans and giving much fodder to her detractors.
Sometimes the more things appear to change the more they stay the same.

Michelle did announce her retirement publicly shortly after the deadline US Skating had asked for. But earlier US skating also had asked to move SA back. I will "speculate" to give Michelle more time to prepare - Sasha , who had been skating in shows was believed to be further along and was assigned to the 1st GP of the season, TEB.